Supporting students on school buses

Abstract

Although research suggests that student misconduct on school buses is pervasive, little is known about the strategies drivers use to promote safe buses. We consulted with more than 40 professionals from the transportation community to create a behavioral management strategy taxonomy for buses. We also analyzed results from a representative survey (N=2,595) of head transportation officials to examine the prevalence and perceived effectiveness of these strategies. The most commonly used strategies are disciplinary referrals, the promotion of relationships between students and drivers and between drivers and school officials, and drivers pulling over when misconduct occurs. Bus attendants and security cameras are perceived as the most effective strategies. An analysis of thousands of open-ended survey responses provides numerous insights about what works for transportation-based student management.